[net.lang.prolog] A standard syntax for Prolog

vantreeck@logic.DEC (07/03/85)

     F. Pereira pointed out that it is difficult to convert
between Edinburgh and Micro-Prolog. I think that problems
of conversion between implementations is not due to syntax.
The problem is due to differences in semantics which are
reflected by different syntaxs. Before we can begin
thinking about a standard syntax for Prolog, we need to
standardize the semantics. But implementers can't even agree
on what cut means. 

- George Van Treeck

fgm@icdoc.UUCP (Frank McCabe) (07/08/85)

The standard micro-PROLOG system includes a package which 'translates' between
the 'standard' (quotes intentional) edinburgh syntax and micro-PROLOG syntax.
This doesn't do a particularly good job on standard micro-PROLOG although the 
systems on sigma-PROLOG and MacPROLOG do a great deal better.

The problems over semantics are very hard to solve; however not even Edinburgh
PROLOG systems agree over how to implement cut!  (For proof of this see C.D.Moss's 
article on the differences between cur on various systems).